Fighting in Yemen’s Taiz intensifies

Fighting in Taiz has increased dramatically over the last few hours between Houthi militias and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the local resistance who are backed by the Yemeni national army, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported.

Violent clashes erupted in a number of villages with deaths being reported on both sides.

Asharq Al-Awsat reported a Yemeni army source in Hifan saying: “Yemeni army forces were able to make significant progress on the Al-Ahkoum front in Hifan […] after fierce battles. This matter has made the Houthi militias and those loyal to Saleh respond by bombing villages.”

“Similarly, violent confrontations took place … During these confrontations, the militias tried to advance on sites belonging to the army in the Asseeratayn area. However, army forces confronted them and forced them to retreat and flee,” the army source added.

Yemen has been locked in a bitter battle between Shia Houthi fighters allied with forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh and government forces led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, along with local tribes and resistance forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition’s airstrikes.